HIV Testing

Find an HIV Testing Site in the Denver Metropolitan Area

There are more than a dozen testing sites for HIV and STDs located in community and commercial venues throughout the Denver-Metro area. Regardless of where you happen to be when you'd like to get tested, there's a convenient location for you.

HIV Infection in the United States and Colorado

An estimated 1.2 million people in the United States are currently living with HIV infection. The annual incidence of the disease is approximately 50,000 cases per year. Since the first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981, more than 1.1 million people have been diagnosed with AIDS and nearly 595,000 have died from the disease. Approximately 20 to 25 percent of individuals living with HIV infection are unaware of their positive status.

In Colorado between 1982 and 2010, approximately 16,600 people were diagnosed with HIV disease. In recent years, the course of the HIV epidemic has remained stable,averaging about 430 new infections each year. It is estimated that about 20 to 25 percent of individuals living with HIV in Colorado are unaware of their positive status.

HIV Testing Recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adolescents and adults ages 15 to 65 years be screened for HIV, as well as women who are pregnant and whose HIV status is unknown.

Individuals who are at an increased risk of HIV infection should get tested every six months. These individuals include the following:

Men who have sex with men (MSM)

Injection drug users

Individuals who have unprotected vaginal or anal sex with multiple partners

Frequent testing for HIV is not recommended for individuals who are at a decreased risk for HIV Infection. These individuals include:

People who are not sexually active

People who are sexually active in exclusive, monogamous relationships with uninfected persons

African-Americans and Latinos are disproportionately impacted by HIV, both nationally and in Colorado. More frequent HIV testing for these populations is recommended.

Benefits of HIV Testing

Identification and treatment of HIV infection is associated with improved health outcomes, decreased risk of HIV transmission from HIV-positive persons to other people, and is key to slowing/ending the epidemic.

All our testing sites offer linkage to care services for those clients who test positive for HIV Infection, including confirmatory laboratory services, referrals to HIV medical care providers, support services, and access to the HIV drug assistance program (ADAP).